• Receipts may be accepted by an employer if the new employee has applied for a replacement document for either List A, B, and/or C documents.
• The employer should record the acceptable receipt with expiration date, and the valid document should be presented within 90 days.
• If an employee cannot provide the document for which the receipt was given, a different acceptable document from the lists may be presented instead.

In certain circumstances, employers, recruiters, and referrers for a fee must accept a receipt in lieu of a List A, List B, or a List C document if one is presented by an employee.

As a general rule, receipts are acceptable only for employees who are already authorized to work but have applied for a replacement document (if the original document was lost, stolen, or damaged). The reason for the loss, damage, etc. does not matter. It could be the result of a natural disaster or the employee’s own misplacement.

If a new employee’s document has been lost, stolen, or damaged within three business days of the first day of employment, the employee may present a receipt showing that they applied for a replacement document. A receipt fulfills the verification requirements of the document for which the receipt was issued — either a List A, B, or C document — and is valid for 90 days from the date of hire.

When an employee provides an acceptable receipt, the employer should:

• Record the document title in Section 2 under List A, B, or List C, as applicable;
• Write the word “receipt” and the document title and number in the Document Number space; and
• Write the last day that the receipt is valid in the Expiration Date field.

Employees who present a receipt should provide the replacement document for which the receipt was issued within 90 days from the date of hire. However, this is not always possible. Document delays, changes in status, and other factors could prevent the individual from presenting the replacement document within 90 days.

If the employee does not present the original document for which the receipt was issued within 90 days, but does present, within the 90-day window, other acceptable documentation to demonstrate identity and/or employment authorization, the employer may accept such documentation. In this case, an employer should:

• Complete a new Section 2,
• Attach it to the original Form I-9, and
• Provide a note of explanation in the Additional Information box on page 2 of the Form I-9 or in a separate attachment.

List A document receipt

If the receipt is for a List A document, but the employee cannot present the actual replacement List A document, then the employee may choose to present a different document from List A, or one document each from List B and List C.

List B or List C receipt

If the receipt is for a List B document, but the employee cannot present the actual document by the end of the 90-day period, the employee may choose to present a List A document or a different List B document to satisfy the Form I-9 requirements. If the receipt is for a List C document, and the employee cannot provide the actual document, the employee could present a List A document or another List C document.

Updates

The USCIS periodically updates information about acceptable receipts. The Form I-9 includes a link to a web page with additional details about some acceptable receipts. In addition, the USCIS may automatically extend the expiration date of an Employment Authorization Document. The Lists of Acceptable Documents includes a link to information about automatic extensions of employment authorization documentation.

After expiration

After a receipt expires, or the employee presents a replacement document, the employer should:

• Cross out the word “receipt” and any accompanying document number and expiration date,
• Record the number and other required document information from the actual document presented in the Additional Information field in Section 2, and
• Initial and date the change.